September 25 -- One of the things about teaching is that I think it is imperative to connect with parents. I wish it were just for good things but unfortunately it's usually the child who is slipping whose parent gets the first call. I guess what I did NOT expect was the parents who contact me to defend their child for not finishing the project or whatever.
15 years ago, I RARELY got a parent phone call. Maybe two in three years. Four weeks in and I have gotten four emails. One was in response to a phone call I made to the parent last week so that doesn't count. But the other three were to "defend" their child who had a week and a half to complete an assignment and, in the eleventh hour, was freaking out because he/she picked the power point and couldn't get it finished or working or whatever. Honestly? I feel bad for the student. How is he/she ever going to make decisions to help him/her stand on their own two feet if Mommy is always acting as a support stick?
I understand that the parent is just scared. There is so much pressure to do well in school to go to a good college to get a good job and have a happy life that I guess a little assignment in 9th grade looks huge and scary. But it's one assignment out of many. And if Johnny or Sue gets a bad grade and next time is more responsible -- it's a lifelong lesson!
Ugghhhhh. It's a challenge for all -- including the teacher!! Lord help me.
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